An April 20, 2010 oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico once again illustrates the hazardous and sometimes deadly work conditions that maritime workers face on a daily basis, say the Houston Maritime Injury Lawyers, Arnold & Itkin LLP.

The fire at an offshore drilling rig doing work for BP PLC comes as the company already faces intense scrutiny in the U.S., five years after an explosion and fire at its Texas City, Texas, refinery killed 15 people and injured scores more.

Massey Energy Co., operator of a mine where 29 workers died in an explosion this month, led a list of 57 coal mines subjected to new U.S. inspections based on previous safety violations, the Labor Department said.

Hydro Extrusion Americas, a global supplier of aluminum and aluminum products, halted all work at its North and South American locations for a half hour last month. The purpose was to focus intensely on job safety.

Houston firefighters who punched ventilation holes in the roof of a burning residence worsened a wind-driven blaze last spring that killed two of their colleagues during a “fast attack” response criticized for lacking coordination, communication and basic knowledge of fire dynamics, according to an exhaustive investigation by federal safety officials.

Inspectors found a number of deficiencies at the plant including unguarded power presses, failing to develop lockout/tagout procedures for energy sources, lack of training for forklift operators, improper personal protection equipment for employees handling acids and caustics, and failing to provide a written hazard communications plan.

As the Northern Belle left Seattle earlier this month, the crew was uneasy about the amount of cargo packed into its holds, according to one of three people who survived when the boat sank in the Gulf of Alaska on Tuesday.